Play Up / Play Down Policy

A child is “playing up" when he/she plays on a team in an older age group.

MASA IN-HOUSE PLAY UP POLICY

Except in special circumstances, MASA discourages In-House players from "playing up" in an older age group, with the exception of players born during the month of August (see below). Players not born during the month of August who wish to play up will only be allowed to do so under the following circumstances:

The player is entering his/her final Spring season in their assigned age group;

The parent has sent a written request to MASA’s In-House Coordinator;

The coach of the player (not the parent) completes the MASA Play-Up Evaluation Form;

The MASA Director of Coaching/Player Development approves the request to play up; and

The MASA Board approves the request to play up.

Factors to be considered by the MASA Director of Coaching/Player Development and the MASA Board as to whether a player should play up include, but are not limited to, the following:

Whether the health, safety, well-being and development of the player will be helped or hindered by playing up or remaining at the current age group;

Whether the health, safety, well-being and development of the player’s teammates will be helped or hindered by playing up or remaining at the current age group; and

Whether the health, safety, well-being and development of opposing players will be helped or hindered by playing up or remaining at the current age group.

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS

MASA understands that sometimes children born in August will attend school with an older soccer age group because the Franklin Regional cutoff for starting school is September 1. Children born in August have the option to play in either age-group and the decision should be made at the time of registration.

MASA TRAVEL PLAY UP POLICY

MASA does not permit Travel players to play up, nor does it allow In-House players to play up on Travel teams.* It is also MASA policy that players are not eligible to tryout** or play for a MASA Travel team until completion of the Spring season of that player’s true U9 season (as determined by the USYSA/PA West age groupings) regardless of whether that player has played up in the past..

EXCEPTIONS: The rare exceptions to the above MASA Trave Play Up Policy are as follows: (1) there are not enough players in an age group to field a team and the team would be disbanded otherwise; (2) a player enters the MASA program at an age too old for the U10 program; and/or (3) other exceptional circumstances as determined by the MASA Director of Coaching/Player Development and the MASA Board in their sole discretion.

* Note: A true U10 player may play both In House and Travel (if selected) during that player’s true U10 season. However said player would not be playing up, but simply playing both In House and Travel during that player’s true U10 season.

** Tryouts for the following Fall season technically may take place before completion of the preceding Spring season, which shall not be a bar to a true U9 player trying out for a Fall U10 Travel team.

2. MASA PLAY DOWN POLICY

DEFINITION OF PLAYING DOWN

A child is “playing down" when he/she plays on a team in a younger age group.

MASA IN-HOUSE PLAY DOWN POLICY

PA West, and therefore MASA, does not permit children to "play down".

MASA TRAVEL PLAY DOWN POLICY

PA West, and therefore MASA, does not permit children to "play down".

3. MASA AGE GROUPS

All MASA’s age groups are published on the MASA website and registration forms. Children born in August who wish to play up one age group do not need to send a written request to the In-House Coordinator. During the online registration process the parent will be given the choice of selecting either age group.